Electrifier cylinder heating means



Jan. 28, 1964 R. s. scHAAB ETAL 3,119,603

ELECTRIFIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 14, 1954 Jan. 28, 1964 R. s. scHAAB ETAL 3,119,603

ELECTRIEIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS,

MMEEMEMA Jan. 28, 1964 R. s. scHAAB ETAL 3,119,603

ELECTRIFIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS Original Filed Deo. 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN1/EN T0125,

MM,M.-M

A T'TOENE V9 Jan. 28, 1964 R. s. scHAAB ETAL 3,119,603

ELECTRIFIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV EN TORS,

Popoli pH .5. 50mm; Rosin E. 5km/vor Jan. 28, 1964 R. s. sci-[AAB ETAL 3,119,503

ELECTRIFIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Dec. 14, 1954 4MM/www m@ s l Y y x/A C l fr, f

JNVENToRsJ Pupa/.PH SCHH/wa /Qomr E. BRM/Dr M, YM

l Arroz/E ys Jan. 28, 1964 R. s. scHAAB ETAL 3,119,603

ELECTRIFIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 H' 'f INVENToRs, 20am/9H .5. .SCHH/qa ROBERT E BRANDT L/ M, M MM A TTOENE V5 Jan. 28, 1964 R. s. scHAAB ETAL 3,119,503

ELECTRIFIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Deo.

United States Patent O 3,119,663 ELECTRIFIER CYLINDER HEATING MEANS Rudolph S. Schaal) and Robert E. Brandt, Delavan, Wis., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Amphenol-Iiorg Eiectronics Corporation, Broadview, Ill., a corporation of Delaware @riginal application Dee. 14, 1954, Ser. No. 475,172, now Patent No. 2,934,809, dated May 3, 1960. Divided and this application Apr. 18, 1961i, Ser. No. 42,733

I Claim. (Ci. 26S- 6) This invention relates to improvements in electriiiers.

This application is a division of application 475,172, filed December 14, 1954, now Patent 2,934,809.

In the processing of pile fabrics, fur, and similar yardage to place the fur or pile in the proper finished condition, a machine known as an electritier is used. Generally speaking, the function of an electrifier is the brushing, combing, beating, and polishing or ironing, which is accomplished by the application to the pile or fur of a rapidly rotating heated roll which has a grooved surface as will be described below. The work pieces are fed to the roll with the pile or fur faced toward the roll, and an apron of canvas or other suitable material in the shape of a conveyor is so mounted with respect to the roll that the fabric is fed between the apron and the roll.

The temperature of the surface of an electrier roll usually must be very critically controlled, and one of the important features of the instant invention is the control of surface temperature not only with reference to the general temperature of the working area of the roll, but also the temperature of each portion of that area. It has been found that there are many factors causing variation of the temperature of specific parts of the roll. For instance, in a roll 77 inches in length, it is impractical to actually apply heat to more than approximately 67 inches of that length. Then, too, in a particular fabric treating operation, the fabric may be of less Width than the 67 inch portion of the roll which is receiving direct heat from the heating source. Furthermore, it has been found that the end portions of the roll sometimes need a greater heat supply because the fabric marginally applies less pressure against the roll, and, if the fabric is moist, the heat requirements are different adjacent the edge of the material than they are more centrally of the length of the roll. Furthermore the friction between the roll and the fabric develops some heat and is variable.

A feature of the invention is the application of heat to the interior of the electriiier roll with zoning of the heat generation and special control for such zoned heat generation plus an application of heat exteriorly to the roll.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the electrier embodying this invention. The top portion of the hood being foreshortened.

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the electriiler shown in FIG. 1 but with the hood removed to expose the electrilier roll and other apparatus normally housed by the hood, a portion of the right end of the electriiier roll being broken away to disclose apparatus therebeneath.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the electrifier with a portion of the hood broken away and parts of the electrier being shown in section to disclose electrical heating mechanism within the roll.

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of FIG. 1, parts of the pneumatic apron cradle actuation mechanism being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 5 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 4 but showing the apron cradle in upper position and showing some yardage of pile fabric as it is fed through the electrier.

FIG. 6 is a developed view of the surface of the electrifier roll and showing the grooves as they would appear if the surface of the roll were laid out flat.

Patented dan. 2S, 1964 ICC FIG. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of FIG. 6 and showing a thermocouple embedded in the surface of the roll.

FIG. 8 is a section on line fi-S of FIG. 6 to show the contour and curvature of a groove.

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9--9 of FIG. 6 and showing features of the groove related to the elimination of streaking of treated surfaces.

FIG. 10 is a section on line Iii-itl of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a section on line 11 11 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of an electrically heated roll.

FIG. 13 is a crosssection showing fragmentarily the disposition of heating elements in an electrically heated roll.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary end View of an arcuate shaped supplementary heating element for the end portion of an electrier roll.

FIG. 15 is a section on line 11S-I5' of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a vertical section through a gas heated electrier roll and portions of the shaft and bearing support therefor.

FIG. 17 is an end elevation of the evacuator tine and end closure member for a gas heated electritier roll.

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic View of the electrical connections and gas burner feed apparatus of the type of electrier roll shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a section on line 19-19 of FIG. 1.

The larger structural elements of the electrifier include a frame 25, an electrilier roll or cylinder 26 revolubly mounted in suitable pillow blocks Z7 and 2b carried by the frame, a hood 29 to cover the cylinder and working zone of the machine, an oscillatable cradle frame dit to carry mechanism which supports and adjusts a belt-like apron 31 used to carry and apply work pieces against the cylinder, and heating control means (FIGS. 11-i7) for the cylinder. A large motor 33 drives the cylinder, and a smaller motor 34 drives the feed rolls.

In this description, the work to be performed by the elec trifier will be assumed to comprise the electrification of pille fabric 35 shown somewhat diagrarnmatically in FIG. 5 as it enters the machine at 36 over a tension bar 37. It will be understood that the web of pile fabric 35 is approximately 56 inches wide, and includes a base of textile or knitted material 33 having a pile 39 of natural or syn ythetic fibers. Obviously the electriier may also be used to work upon many -types of natural or synthetic fabrics, furs and other webs of material.

The Frame Although it is not considered that features of the frame 25 include patentable subject matter, it will clarify the description below to have it initially understood that the main frame includes spaced pedestals 4t) and 41 at the left `and right respectively yas viewed from lthe front or input face of the electrier. Between these pedestals there extends a box-like stretcher 42 the dimension of which, as to height and depth are less than the pedestals. The pedestals are symmetrically rectanguiarly box-like except for a `lower shelf-like portion at 43 (pedestal 4d) and 44 (pedestal 4K1) for the support of ythe shaft of an output feed roll as will be described below.

Work Feeding Mechanism The broad purpose of the work feeding mechanism is to advance the web 35 of material through the machine and against the rotating cylinder 26. Compensation for shrinkage or expansion of the web, adjustment of the extent of wrap-around of the web in relation to the cylinder, control of pressure of the web against the cylinder are some of the problems to be met by this mechanism.

The first guiding element over which the web 35 is fed is the tension bar 37 referred to above. It is carried in bearings forming part of a pair of rockers supported by plates Si mounted to the respective frame pedestals. This is not a power roll and the rockers 53 as shown in FlG. 4 also carry tension bars `55S which are bars providing a degree of resistance -to rthe infeed of the web.

From the rocker bars 55 the web passes to infeed holdback roll 56. This roll is power driven, as will be described below, but actually performs the function of guiding and retarding somewhat the feed of the web to the cylinder. Exteriorly the roll 56 is clothed with stiff bristles, usually wire, intended to penetrate the fabric 35 sufficiently to assure web travel at a rate dictated by the actual surface speed of the roll.

From roll 56 the web passes to pressure roll 57 the shaft of which is adjustably and resiliently mounted from cradle 30. Cradle 3d is `a frame-alike member oscillatable about shaft di). lt not only carries the pressure roll but also an idler roll 61. Output roll 62 is mounted on shaft ot) as described below.

The Cylinder Cylinder Z6 is hollow, is about 77 inches long in the particular electrilier here being described, and is mounted upon a pair of main stub shafts 120 and 121. These are tubular shafts and they extend loutwardly axially of the cylinder from the point of attachment respectively to cylinder end pieces 122 and 123.

Since the cylinder is l2 inches in diameter with a one inch thick Aouter wall, carries electric or hydrocarbon heating units and controls, and is expected to rotate at 850 revolutions per minute, it is necessary -t-o support shafts 12th and 121 in heavy bearing supports 27 and 23 carried by the respective pedestals 4t) and d1. Suicient space is provided between end piece 123 and bearing 28 so that a flue gas evacuating shroud 126 is receivable about and adjacent the end piece. Also there is room for a slip ring `assembly 127 (see FIG. y16) forming part of the heater apparatus.

Main power supply for the rotation of cylinder 26 is derived from motor 33 .through V belts 1st?` over appropriate pulleys on the motor shaft and cylinder shaft 124?. A predetermined motor speed for rotation of the cylinder at 850 revolutions per minute is usually satisfactory since variations in treatment may be secured by means of the possible changes in feed of material and wrap-around as will be apparent from the above description and as will be seen from the description below relative to temperature control of the cylinder itself.

As a safety provision there is included in the cylinder control apparatus a hand operated brake including a br-ake drum 131 a contractible brake band 132, and a hand lever 133 shown tmost clearly in FIG. 19.

Exteriorly of the cylinder itself there -are helically arranged grooves 135 and 13d shown most clearly in FIGS. 2, y6, and 8 to l2 inclusive. The direction of rotation shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 establishes grooves 135 as being right hand grooves in .terms of the direction in which loose fibers or moisture will be laterally moved by the combing action of these grooves and the associated equipment described below. Grooves 136 are left hand grooves since they work the surface of a treated fabric toward the left.

The material of the cylinder 26 is cut away to form a groove, and the contour of the groove is seen in the various cross sections in FIGS. 8 to l2 inclusive. The trailing wall of each groove is abruptly radially shouldered throughout most of the groove length, and a metal wear blade 137 is mounted securely against this shoulder by means of screws vv13S. The exposed corner of the blade is rounded slightly at 139, since this corner provides the greatest abrasion against the treated material of `any work piece and there must be no severe scraping or tearing action.

lt will be noted that the trailing end of each groove which terminates interiorly of the end portions of the cylinder is peripherally enlarged at 14d to provide a spreader zone. This configuration is distinguished from the contour of the trailing end of a groove such as that at letti at the left end of a groove 13e or at the right end of a groove i3d. Here the terminal portion of a groove is merely tapered out in the simplest manner by lifting the milling cutter fairly abruptly in the manufacturing process.

Continuous straight grooves parallel with the axis of the cylinder, or at an angle less than 20 degrees to said axis are ineffective. Furthermore, grooves may not cross one another. Therefore, since a. cylinder having a diameter greater than 16 inches does not provide abrupt enough beating and combing action, it is necessary to provide interrupted, non-continuous grooves, which are preferably helical, but the terminals of these interrupted grooves caused streaks. A first attempt to avoid streaking of the treated web included the staggering of the interrupted grooves so that the trailing end of each succeeding groove and wear plate 137 applied to the material would not perpetuate the streak, but this alone was not enough. It was then discovered that the flared and shallower trailing ends corrected the streaking tendency.

The flared groove ends have an exceedingly important function. lf they are not provided, the material being treated will be streaked. With the flared groove ends-140 no streaking results from an electrification even though moisture treatment of the fur or fabric accompanies or precedes the electrication process. It is believed that a spreading of wiped moisture at the trailing ends of the grooves has something to do with the success of a nonstreaking cylinder equipped with these flared groove ends.

In the particular cylinder shown in the drawings, the cylinder is l2 inches in diameter, the grooves are 24 inches long and two inches wide. The dimensions of the developed view in FIG. 6 are proportionately accurate.

T he Heater Because portions of cylinder 26 dissipate heat faster than others during a working period, and because accurate control of heat is an extremely important requirement for successful electrication especially where synthetic fibers in modern fabrics are to be treated, the heating means and controls, therefore, are an important feature of this invention.

The hollow interior of the cylinder 26 is divided into zones, which will be described initially in connection with the gas burner source of heat as shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, althoughit will be understood that many of the principles discussed will apply as well where electrically heated elements such as Calrods are used.

In the gas heated cylinder, one half of which is shown in FIG. 16, there are six zones of which Zones 14S, 146 and 147 are shown. Each has a. set of individual burner heads, of which 15:3 is an example and it is fed with a gas and air mixture suitable for efficient combustion as it issues at the head 1458. A chamber 15d below the heads in zone 14S receives fuel from fuel tube 151 extending parallel with and along the axis of cylinder 26 from a proportional mixer valve E52 at the extreme right end of tubular shaft 121. It will be understood, of course, that the burners and these fuel feed tubes do not rotate with the cylinder.

The burners in Zone 146 receive their fuel from chamber 153 supplied by conduit 154 annular in cross section and extending from mixer valve 155. And burners in zone 147 have fuel supply chamber 156 connected by conduit l5,7 supplied by proportional mixer valve 158.

As shown in the diagram, FIG. 18, the mixer valves receive their gas through a conduit 159 and their air supply through a conduit 16), and it is a feature of the burners and mixers here shown (and being no part of the instant invention) that it is possible by controiling the supply of air to any one of the mixer valves 152, 155 or 158 to assure proper volumetric mix for burner consumption. Therefore, a separate air valve at 161 for mixer 152, an air valve 162 for mixer 155 and air valve 163 for mixer 153, each need only be controlled by a thermocouple located in accord with this invention to dictate the proper supply of heat to the respective zones of the cylinder 26 when coupled to electronic controls as at 161', 152 and 163.

Assuming, therefore, as is so often the fact, that zone 147 at the end of the cylinder requires more heat, a thermocouple 147 embedded in that portion of the outer wall of the cylinder will close a circuit 147 as shown in FIG. 18 to open air valve 163 Wider for greater air supply to mixer S, thus supplying a larger fuel volume to burner 148 fed through the conduit 157 and chamber 156.

Other thermocouples corresponding in position to zones 145 and 146 are shown at 145 and 146. They control the respective mixers for the corresponding Zones.

As indicated above, there is a set of slip rings at 127. These are individually connected to the thermocouples as indicated at 166 and are served by appropriate brushes to pass current in accord with the circuits shown in dotted lines in FIG. 18.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show the means for evacuating ue gases from the cylinder. Ports 165 through the end piece 123 vent the gases to the shroud 126 and this is provided with a llue pipe served by an evacuating fan (not shown).

To accomplish the same zoning and control of heat with electrical means as shown in FIGS. 12-15 inclusive and FIG. 3, a strong supporting carrier tube 170 made up in suitable coupled sections extends non-rotatively through the tubular shafts 120 and 121 and completely axially through the cylinder 26. This supporting carrier not only provides a mounting for Calrod grids 171, but it provides a conduit for the electrical leads extending to Calrods for zones of heat dissipation. The Calrods are grouped as to short and long heat elements 172 and 173 to serve the zones, but it is novel to arrange the heater elements annularly as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

The various leads to conduct current to the elements 172-173 extend to junction boxes 174-4175 at each end of the tube 17th Where appropriate controls connected to the thermocouples assure accurate heating of the respective portions of the surface of the cylinder.

It has been found to be of special value for supply of heat to the end zones of the cylinder to provide semiannular oven-like heaters 1S@ and 151 encompassing part of the ends of the cylinder. In these, the heating elcments are arranged as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 as will be readily understood. The housing 182 provides radiant reflector surfaces directing the heat of the elements against the surface of the roll, and the control of the elements 133 directly from a thermocouple such as 147 assures quick and accurately supplied requirements.

It Will be noted in the drawings that the electrical heating means such as Calrods are arranged in a pattern (FIGS. 'l2 and 13) of long elements 173 (for instance, 2.4 in number) and of short elements 172-` `(for instance, 1S in number). To control such a pattern of heat producing elements, it has been found especially eifective to group fifteen long elements 173 and all the short elements 172 on one circuit to be controlled by thermocouples 145', and to group the remaining (nine) long elements and the semiannular reilective heaters 1d@ and 181 on another circuit controlled by thenmocouples 147. rThus the end portions of the cylinder can receive additional heat as needed.

FIGURE 7 shows the manner in which the thermocouples are inserted in the wall of the cylinder 25 each in a bore 185, counterbo-red at 155 and doubly counterbored at 1137. The extreme tip 183 of the thermocouple unit abuts the inner extremity of the bore and the counterbore wall is threaded at 189 to receive a bayonet sleeve 1%. This provides a receptor for a compression spring 191 abutted against thermocouple shoulder 192 and compressed by bayonet cap 193 as will be readily understood. The bores for thermocouples and 146 are very deep, md a special tool is used to apply cap 193 when the thermocouple is bottomed in its bore 185. Thus the thermocouples are situated close to the surface of the cylinder 26, but in protected housing within the bronze or other material of which the cylinder may be made.

Operation Assuming a cold cylinder, the electronic controls are set for the desired cylinder temperature for treatment of the material to be passed through the electrifier. Air and gas will then be passed through the respective fuel feed ducts 151, 154 and 157 to the chambers out of which the burner heads 1li-8 are Ifed. The burner headers are lighted in any suitable manner, Whether automatic or manual, and the cylinder 25 is soon brought up to the desired temperature while it is rotated by the motor 3'3.

As soon as the cylinder 26 is up ,to temperature, the thermocouples and their connected electronic controls for the respective portions will cut down the air supply and, of course, the gas supply to a pilot to stand by basis.

The operator will in the mean-time adjust wheel 1132 to provide the proper amount of slack at I157 in chain 91. Motor 34 will be energized to cause the input and output rolls to be operated at the correct speed as dictated by the reduction drive control at 1G18.

The evacuating fan for ventilation will have been actuated and feed of material over rolls 37 and 55 to the input roll 56 and thence over roll S7 will be instituted as soon as Valve titl has been opened to provide air pressure in cylinder i7 for the elevation of the cradle to the desired position, as, for instance, the position shown in FlG. 5. The fabric 35 will be moved through the bite oi apron SI1 and cylinder 25 with contact against the cylinder governed by the setting of the ratchet controlled shaft 161. If a greater amount of slack at 1617 is released by counterclockwise rotation of shaft 151 (as viewed in FIG. 4), then the thrust of the ram 76 of piston assembly 77 will raise the roll `57 to a higher position, overcoming the compression spring 9'9 to a degree. Obviously, a greater extent of Wrap-around means a longer time interval in which the treated material is in contact with the cylinder, and because of the increased compression of spring 91B, there is some increase in the pressure with which the material is brought to bear against the cylinder. Tl ese variables are often critical, and the operator of this electrier is able, by adjusting chains 91 and the speed of opera-tion of the feed rolls to obtain what may be termed a micrometer adjustment providing the exact treatment that is desired.

During the progress of a Web of material 3-5 through this electritier, the treatment may cause some stretching possibly resulting in a looseness of the web at the trailing end of the apron, but this is compensated by the slightly increased speed of rotation of output roll 62 as compared with input roll 56.

During a heavy run of wide Webs of material 35, a considerably increased requirement for heat Will be encountered, and often a surprisingly large heat requirement will develop in certain portions of the surface of the cylinder. Especially this is true at the ends of the cylinder, but with the thermocouples `147 positioned at each end zone, an accurate control is maintained automatically whereby greater gas or hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the burners in zones 147, or, if electric elements 183 are needed to be energized to` supplement electric elements at the ends of the interior of the cylinder these are cut in to help meet the greater heat requirements. It will be clear from the above description that the semiannular heaters 181 supply quick automatic response to unusual demands in the area which they serve.

The direction of rotation of cylinder 26l as noted on the drawings presents each groove to the treated material in a gradual pulling action tending to draw the material into the groove in a rippling movement ending, as to each point in the material, in an abrupt rubbing or combing action by the somewhat rounded edge of blade 1617. In treatment `of pile fabrics, the pile is caused to be straightened and made more erect. In fact, a newly manufactured pile fabric having a lay of the pile in one direction can have this lay corrected by passing the fabric through this eleotrier, `referably in a direction in which the combing action referred to is contra to the lay.

As to each cylinder groove tending, by reason 0f its helical configuration, to wipe or comb the material centrally of the web, left or right as the case may be, such grooves end in the spread, shallow groove terminals as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In combination with the short, helical grooves, these terminals have solved one of the most serious problems heretofore encountered in the electrication of materials. Materials have been so streaked during moist treatment, and even in some dry treatments that electrication has been unsuccessful, but with the terminals described, a streakless electriiication has been regularly accomplished.

We claim:

An electriiier having an outer walled hollow revoluble electrier cylinder interiorly provided with fuel supply chambers, coaxial tubular fuel supply conduits for supply separately of fuel to said chambers, and fuel burners supported by said conduits connected for fuel supply to said chambers, said conduits being provided with respective control means for variation volumetrically of fuel supply to said chambers, said control means including thermally responsive members embedded in the outer Wall of the cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,168,171 Crumbaugh Ian. 11, 1916 1,516,612 McIntosh Nov. 25, 1924 2,603,457 Bishop July l5, 1952 2,777,931 Bundegaard et al Ian. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 233,287 Great Britain May 7, 1925 882,35() France Jan. 21, 1942 

